Antiwear device for the mooring cables of submarine mines



Dec. 18, 1951 R. H. PARK 2,578,735

ANTIWEAR DEVICE FOR THE MOORING CABLES OF SUBMARINE MINES Filed July 1, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 18, 1951 R. H. PARK 2,578,735

ANTIWEAR DEVICE FOR THE MOORING CABLES OF SUBMARINE MINES Filed July 1, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 gm I 33 f ll]! 34 lllllli 34 ll I lllll lll VIII/1.5371, J 5 as 3s 35 lv 26 32 24 29 2;: 25 28 32 gmmmmvmzm 36 36 W #2: Hilly a; //1 H 27 glvvue/wbom ROBERT H- PARK Dec. 18, 1951 R'. H. PARK 2,578,735

ANTIWEAR DEVICE FOR THE MOORING CABLES OF SUBMARINE MINES FJ' ed July 1, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 v,Illll" Q Q lmnr T H PARK 52 ROBER ywwy Dec. 18, 1951 R. H. PARK 2,578,735

ANTIWEAR DEVICE FOR THE MOORING CABLES OF SUBMARINE MINES Filed July 1, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwue/wfm' ROBERT H. PARK Patented bee. 18,

UNITED STATES PATENT omen ANTIWEAR DEVICE FORTHE MOORING CABLES OF SUBMARINE MINES (Granted under the act or March a, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757

This invention relates to anti-wear'devices' for the mooring cable of a submarine mine. More specifically, this inventionrelates to means for preventing wear of the mooring cable secured to a buoyant mine at the point where it emerges from the mine anchor in which the mine is adapted tobe moored bya cable wound on a drum rotatably secured to the mine anchor and adapted Lto pay out the mooring cable variably in accordance with the depth of water within which the mine is launched. p v

In mine assemblies comprising a mooring cable arid'a buoya'nt mine releasably secured thereto at the time of launching, it is the general practice to payout the mooring cablethrough an annular guide memberarranged coaxially with an aperture within the mine anchor, hereinafter referred toas a fairl'ead, from a drum arranged within the mine anchor after the mine has been launched until the mine has assumed a predetermined depth of submersion beneath the surface of the water. When this occurs, the drum is locked thereby preventing additional paying out of the cable from the mine anchor and the buoyant mine is, therefore,moored at the predetermined depth of submersion within the body of water by the mooring cable and mine anchor. Considerable difficulty has been experienced with this type of mine as the result of wear of the mooring cable at the fairlead caused by the movement of the mine within-the water in response to tidal currents, storms and the like thereby causing the mooring cable to be flexed and rubbed against the fairlead and eventually to become weakened and worn sufficiently to sever the cable and release the mine from the anchor. In certain cases the rate of wear of the mooring cable has been found to be increased by the presence of sand or other abrasive material introduced between the cable and the fairlead as the result of movements of the water within which the mine anchor is planted.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a new and improved fairlead structure comprising a suitable resilient or yieldable device such, for example, as'a rubber bushing arranged about'the mooring cable at the 'point of emergence fromthe anchor casing andmeans for securely clamping the i airlead to the cable whereby the cable .-'prevented from being brought into contact'with the casing'or the mine anchor at all times and :the possibility of wear as a result of friction between the cable and the fairlead of the mine anchor is prevented. I Furthermore, the mooring cable is yieldably clamped 2 bythe fair-lead when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the mine has been launched whereby the cable is guided by the fairlead as the cable is payed out from the mine an- ,chor in response to the launching of the mine and thereafter yieldably clamped by the fairlead after the paying out of the cable from the mine anchor has been arrested. An arrangement is thus providedin which the degree of fiexion of the cable at the point of emergence from the casing .of the mine anchor is substantially reduced 'and'the life and effectiveness of the cable is increased.

One of the objects of the present invention is theprovis'ion of new and improved means for yieldably clamping the mooring cable of a submarine mine at the point of emergence from the mine anchor.

Another of the objects is to provide a yieldable support for the mooring cable of a submarine mine at the point of emergence from the mine anchor in which the mooring cable is adapted to slide freely during the launching of the mine and be yieldably clamped thereto after the mine has been moored.

Another object is the provision of a new and improved fairlead' structure for a moored submarine mine in which means are provided for preventing the entrance of abrasive material between the mooring cable and the fairlead after the mine has been moored.

Another object is to provide a new and improved device ior'gui'ding and yieldably clamping the mooring cable of a submarine mine at the point of emergence from a mine anchor which will'be economical to manufacture, reliable in operation and which possesses all the qualities of ruggedness and durability.

Still other objects, improvements and advantages will be "apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of which:

r 'Fig. 1 isa View in elevation of a complete mine assembly in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mine assembly of Fig. 1 with the mine shown in dashed outline;

3 'isa view in elevation of the device of 1 with the mine in areleased position;

4'is a .vie'w greatly enlarged and partly broken awayjofqthe cable clamping device of Fig. 1;? v r :Fig '5- is aview partly in'section taken along h 5" f' g-f Fig. '6 is'a view in elevation partly in section of (a the device of Fig. showing the mooring cable clamped by the yieldable clamping means.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a view partly in section taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line III-40 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 11 is an inverted planview of the device of Fig. '7;

Fig. 12 is a detailed sectional view taken stantially along the line I2I2 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the plunger in a released position;

Fig. 14 is a detailed sectional view partially broken away taken substantially along the line i4I4 of Fig. 8; and, k

Fig. 15 is a View similar to Fig. 14 showing the device in an operated clamping position.

Referring now to the drawings andmore' particularly to Fig. 1 thereof there is shown thereon a mine anchor indicated generally by the numeral II having a drum I2 therein rotatably mounted subas at It about which is wrapped a mooring cable is having one end thereof secured to the drum and the other end secured to the mine I5 as by the eye I6 attached thereto. The mine I5 is of any suitable type, preferably spherical in shape adapted to rise within the water by reason of the positive degree of buoyancy imparted thereto and thereby Withdraw the cable I 4 from the mine anchor after the mine hasbeen launched within the body of water and disengaged from the mine anchor. The mine is also provided preferably with a cover I] securedthereto as by the bolts I8 whereby the mine is adapted to be hermetically sealed after theexplosive charge and firing control mechanism have .been assembled therein. The mine is supported preferably by a plurality of supports l secured topthe upper portion of the casing 26 of the mineanchor inany suitable manner as by welding or. brazingthe parts together and may, if desired, be releasably, clamped to the mine casing during the transportation, handling and planting of themine in which case suitable means would, of course, be provided to effect the disengagement; of the, mine from the anchor casing in responsetothe. launching of the mine as is well known in;. the art to which the present invention pertains.

The mine anchor is providedwith a small downwardly extending portion 2] to whichis rotatably secured the wheels, .22 1 whereby the launching of the mine from a vessel isfacilitated. There is preferably, arranged .within the lower portion of the mine anchor 'casinga. plurality of heavy weights of material suitable for the purpose such, for example, aslead or iron adapted to cause the mine anchor to be maintained in fixed engagement with the bed of the body of water regardless of the action or tidalcurrents or other forces of nature tending to cause movement of the same.

.The rotatable drum I2 is provided with a mechanism of any suitable type adapted to pay out the cable I4 therefrom such, for example, as the differential drum for mine anchors disclosed in the copending applicationv of James B. Glennon, Serial No. 635,117, filed September 2'7, 1932, now Patent No. 2,435,580, for Differential Drum for Mine Anchors in which the cable is locked when the mine has risen within the water to a predetermined depth of submergence therein.

"ii The mine anchor casing 20 is provided with a suitable aperture 23 in the upper portion thereof through which the cable I4 is adapted to pass freely, the aperture being of sufliciently greater size than the cable to prevent the cable from coming into contact with the casing of the mine anchor as the cable is flexed by movement of the mine. Arranged about the aperture 23 in concentric relation thereto is a cylindrical member 24, Fig. 5, secured to the casing 20 of the mine anchor in any suitable manner a by welding or brazing the parts together. Within the cylindrical portion 24 is disposed a fairlead comprising a yieldable or resilient bushing 25 of material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as rubber having an aperture 28 therein slightly greater than the cable I4 arranged therein whereby the cable is adapted to slide freely through the rubber bushing during the launching of the mine and the adjustment thereof to a predetermined depth within the water. The bushing 25 is also provided preferably with rounded portions 21 thereby to facilitate movement of the cable I4 therein as the cable is unwound from the drum I2.

There is also provided a clamping plate 28 having an aperture 29 therein preferably somewhat larger than the aperture 23 within the mine anchor casing 20 within which is arranged the cable It, the plate being maintained in the assembled position by a plurality of studs 3| secured to the anchor casing in any suitable manner as by welding or threading the parts together, the studs 3| being adapted to pass freely through a plurality of apertures 32 provided within the plate 2e. Whereas in. the illustrative embodiment of the invention of Fig. 4 of the drawings, four studs 3! are shown, it will be readily understood that this is by way of illustration only and that a greater or lesser number of studs may be employed without departing from the principles or scope of the invention. Each of the studs 3I is provided with a nut 33 and washer 34 whereby the clamping plate 28 is yieldably urged toward the casing of the mine anchor by the spring members 35 arranged about the studs intermediate the washers and the clamping plate. The clamping plate 28 is prevented from compressing the bushing 25 sufficiently to cause the cable I4 to be seized by the bushing until the soluble washers 36 have dissolved or softened suificiently by the action of the water to cause the plate 28 to be moved by the spring members 35 to the clamping position illustrated on Fig. 6. The soluble washers may be composed of any material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as a composition of salt, glue, glycerine and the like in which the washers are prevented from dissolving sufliciently to permit movement of the plate 28 by the springs 35 until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the mine has been launched.

When this occurs, the bushing 25 is compressed by the plate 28 in response to the dissolution of the aforesaid soluble washers, Fig. 6, thereby causing the mooring cable I4 to be seized by the rubber bushing as a result of the contraction of the aperture 26 thereof, the rubber bushing being securely clamped to the casing 2i] of the mine anchor generally in the manner illustrated on Fig. 6 thereby providing an arrangement in which the mooring cable is yieldably supported and guided by the resilient bushing 25 after the movement of the drum I2 has been arrested, and in which the entrance of sand or other abrasive sea-er material between the cable and the' fairleadjis prevented. Furthermore, the 'cable'is prevented from coming into contact withthe 'casing of the mine anchor by reason of the novel arrangement of parts and instrumentalities disclosed'thereby preventing wear of the mooring cable at the point of emergence from the mine anchor, casing.

On Figs. 7 to 15 is shown a modified form of the invention in which the resilient bushin'g'employed for clamping the cable is composed of two parts maintained in spaced relation with respect to each other prior to the launching of the mine and mine anchor by a soluble washer arrangement and having means for causing relative movement between the two parts of the bushing as the washer. is dissolved by'the surrounding water thereby yieldably to clamp thecableto the mine casing at or near the point of emergence of the cable therefrom when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the mine has been launched.

The upper plate of the mine casing 213 is provided with an aperture 3? over which is arranged a circular plate 38 having an aperture 39 therein in axial alinement with the aperture 37, the plate 38 being secured to the upper portion of the casing 20 of the mine anchcr by the bolts 4| and 42 and nuts 43 and 44 respectively threaded thereon. There is also provided a cup shaped member 45 secured to the lower portion of the upper plate of the mine casing 29 by the bolts 4| and 42, the member 45 having an aperture 45 therein arranged coaxially with the aperture 31 of the mine casing. The aperture is partiany enclosed by shaped member 45 in any suitable manner as by welding or brazing the parts together, the plate 4'! being provided with an aperture it-therein of substantially the same size as the aperture 39 and in axial alinement with the aperture 39. There is also provided a pair of semi-cylindrical members 49 and having suitable recessed portions adapted to be engaged by the upper plate of the mine anchor casing 20 and the lower portion of the member 45 respectively, the member 49 being preferably adjustable with respect to the member 45 in any suitable manner as by the bolt 52 threaded within the member 45.

The member'5l, it will be noted, is adapted to be moved to a clamping position after the mine anchor has been launched as will more clearly appear as the description proceeds. Fitted within the member 49 is a resilient bushing 53 preferably secured thereto in any suitable manner as by vulcanizing or cementing the parts together. The member 51 is similarly provided with a resilient bushing 54 secured thereto, each of the bushings 53 and 54 being provided with a semicircular portion 55 of a size suitable for causing the cable Hi to be yieldably clamped to the casing of the mine anchor as the member 5| is moved to the clamping position. The resilient bushings 53 and 54 may be composed of any m'aterial suitable for the purpose such, for example, as rubber in which the cable is yieldably clamped to the casing of the mine anchor and the entrance of sand or other abrasive material between the cable and the bushings is prevented when the bushings are in the clamped position.

There is also provided a lever 56 adapted to be moved rotatably about a bearing support 51 secured to the bolt 42 and maintained at a predetermined distance fromthe upperplateoi the to be engaged items lever the other end thereof'held totthe uppfiliplate of the mine casing as by thebolt 6'l'passing therethrough wherebythe lever 56 is yieldably urged at all times toward the clamping position by the. retractile spring 56. The lever 55 isprovi'ded with. a projecting portion 83 extending through aslot. 55 within the member 55and'adapted to einga ge the semi-cylindrical member 51 and move the member 5| and resilient bushing 54 to the clamp ing position as the lever operates,

There is also provided a support 15 secured to the top side of the upper plate of the mine casing 25 as by the bolts 62 having an aperture lfi therein within which is arranged the plunger 12. The plunger '12 is urged outward by the spring flit arranged between the support 10 and a Washer '54 secured to the plunger 12 as by the pin 15 pass-- ing therethrough. There is also threaded on theplunger E2 a tapered nut '|"6 having a flanged por-- tion ll thus providing means for locking the lever 55 in "the unoperated position. The plunger '5 is releasably maintained in theposition shown on Fig. 12 by a soluble washer 18 arranged about the a plate 4'! secured to the lower portion of the cup plunger intermediate the flanged portion i? of the nut l8 and the support 10 wherebythenut or stop I5 is maintained in releasable'locking engagement with respect to the lever 56, a suitable aper-- ture i5 being provided within the upper plate of the mine casing 20 of s ufiicient size to permit movement of the nut 76 therethrough. A plate 85 secured to the casing 20 as by the bolts 90 addi tionally guides and supports the soluble Washer 78 and nut 75 by reason of a suitable aperture provided therein.

When the mine anchor has been immersed within a body of water for a predetermined peri- 0d of time the soluble washer 18 is dissolved by the surrounding water thereby allowing the plunger 12 to be retracted by the spring 13 to the position shown on Fig. 13 thereby releasing the lever 55 and causing the lever tobe actuated to clamping position bythe retractile spring 65.

There is also provideda cam member '8"! rotatably supported by the'bolt '82 having a'cyline drical portion 83 thereonadapte'd to'be'engaged 1 by the flexible member 8 3 having one end thereing 51 comprising a suitable flange 59ad apted of secured to the cam member as by the screw 85 and the other end secured to one end of the retractile spring 86. The other endof theretractile spring 85 is attached to a pin or other suitable projecting portion 81 of the lever 55 thereby providing an arrangement in which the cam 8| is continuously and yieldably urged by the spring 86 in a direction to'lock the lever 55 in an operated position regardless of the degree of movement of the lever 56. There is also preferably provided a washer 88 adapted to engage a shoulder 89 on the bolt :82 thereby to insure rotativemovement of the cam member 81' as the clamping lever 56 moves toward the clamping position thereof. I h

, An arrangement is thus provided in which the lever 55 is releasablylock the'p sition newn on Fig. '11. ,of the drawingsaiia in 'wl'iich' theeam spring 86 to difierent positions corresponding re spectively to the different locking positions of the lever 56 as the resilient bushings 53 and 54 are maintained in clamping engagement with the cable l4 by the retractile spring 55 after the soluble washer 18 has been dissolved. Furthermore, by employing a lever of the type illustrated in the drawings having a short arm between the fulcrum and the projecting portion 68 thereof and a relatively long arm between the fulcrum and the formed portion 65, the force of the sprin 65 is multiplied sufiiciently to cause the resilient bushings 53 and 54 to be urged into clamping engagement with each other with sufficient pressure to prevent substantial wear'of the bushings and the cable and additionally to prevent the entrance of sand or other abrasive material between the cable and the resilient bushings. Furthermore, it will be noted that the resilient bushings 53 and 54 normally extend beyond the retaining members 49 and 5: whereby the bushings may be compressed as required without the possibility of checking the movement of the lever 56 by the members 49 and 5| moving into contact with each other.

The arrangement disclosed provides means for guiding and clamping the mooring cable by the resilient bushings 53 and 54 whereby wear of the mooring cable at the point of emergence from the mine anchor casing is eliminated, the arrangement disclosed also preventing the entrance of sand or other abrasive substance between the mooring cable and the resilient bushings whereby the life and effectiveness of the cable is greatly prolonged.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific embodiments of the invention which give satisfactory results, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of disclosure and that many other and varied forms and uses will present themselves to those versed in the art without departing from the invention, and the invention is, therefore, not limited either in structure or in use except as indicated by the terms and scope of the appended claims.

The invention herein described and claimed may be manufactured and used by and for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device for mooring a mine, the combi nation of a mine anchor having a recessed portion therein, a cable adapted to moor the mine to said anchor, said cable extending into said recessed portion of the mine anchor, a resilient clamp arranged about said cable and secured to said mine anchor mounted within said recessed portion, and means for causing the cable to be clamped by said resilient clamp when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the mine has been launched within the water.

2. In a device for mooring a mine, the combination of an anchor, a casing for said anchor having an aperture therein, a mooring cable arranged within said aperture and secured at one end thereof to said mine, means for paying out a length of cable from said anchor as the mine is launched, a resilient bushing having an aperture therein within which is arranged said cable, and means for yieldably urging said resilient bushing against said casing thereby to compress the bushing sufiiciently to yieldably clamp the-cable to said casing when said length of cable hasbeen paid out.

3. A moored mine having a cable secured thereto, an anchor for said cable, means arranged within the anchor for securing the cable thereto, aresilient bushing arranged about said cable intermediate the mine and said cable securing means, means for securing said resilient bushing to the casing of said anchor, a clamping member adapted to compress said resilient bushing, means including a plurality of spring devices adapted to cause the resilient bushing to be compressed by said clamping member, and a plurality of water soluble devices arranged between said clamping member and said casing for preventing the compression of said resilient bushing by said spring devices until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the mine has been launched.

4. In a device for mooring a mine within a body of water, a cable secured to said mine, a mine anchor having means for paying out a predetermined length of said cable therefrom as the mine is launched, a resilient bushing secured to said mine anchor having an aperture therein through which the cable is adapted to pass, and means effective when said mine anchor has been immersed within the water for a predetermined period of time for causing said cable to be yieldably seized by said resilient bushing.

5. In a device of the character disclosed for mooring a buoyant submarine mine within a body, of water, the combination of a mine anchor, a cable secured to the mine, means for paying out a length of said cable from the mine anchor as the mine is launched within the water, a resilient guide secured to said mine anchor having an aperture therein through which the cable is adapted to pass, and means for causing said resilient guide to be compressed sufiiciently to contract the aperture and yieldably clamp the cable to the mine anchor.

6. In a mine anchor adapted to moor a buoyant mine at a predetermined depth of submergence within a body of water, a flexible cable for maintaining the mine in moored relation with respect to said mine anchor, a yieldable annular member secured to said mine anchor within which the cable is arranged, and means within said anchor and connected to said yieldable annular member for causing the cable to be seized by said yieldable annular member when the mine has been moored thereby to prevent wear of the cable as the result of movement of the mine within the water.

'7. The combination of a buoyant mine having a cable secured thereto, a mine anchor, a casing for said mine anchor having an aperture therein through which the cable is adapted to pass, means for paying out a length of said cable from the mine anchor as the mine is launched within the water, a circular well secured to said casing in cpaxial relation with respect to said aperture, an annular resilient device arranged within said well having an aperture therein slightly larger than the cable within which the cable is disposed, a clamping plate having an aperture therein considerably larger than the aperture within said resilient device, said clamping plate being arranged coaxially with respect to the resilient device and in abutting relation thereto, a plurality of soluble devices arranged about said resilient device adapted to maintain said clamping member releasably in predetermined spaced relation with respect to said well,

9 and means including a plurality of spring mem-' bers for causing the clamping plate to be released and compress said resilient device sufficiently to seize the cable when said soluble devices have been dissolved by the surrounding water.

8. The combination of a mine anchor having a mooring cable emerging therefrom, a buoyant mine secured to said mooring cable and adapted to be anchored withi a body .of water by said mine anchor, means for paying out sufiicient cable from said mine anchor to cause the mine to be moored within the body of water, an annular resilient member arranged about said cable secured to the mine anchor adapted to guide the cable during the moorin of the mine, and means responsive to the action of the sea water after the mine anchor has been planted within the water for a predetermined period of time and connected to said annular resilient member for causing the mooring cable to be seized by said resilient annular member.

9. In a device of the character disclosed for mooring a submarine mine. within a body of water, a mooring cable secured to said mine, a mine anchor having means for paying out a length of said cable therefrom as the mine is launched, a casing for said mine anchor, a fairlead secured to said casing comprising a pair of resilient bushings having complementary recessed portions within which the cable is arranged, means for releasably maintaining the bushings in predetermined space relation with respect to each other while the cable is being paid out from the mine anchor, and means effective when the mine anchor has been launched for a predetermined period of time for causing relative movement of said bushings sufficient to clamp the cable therebetween.

10. A fairlead for a mine anchor comprising a pair of resilient bushings having complementary recessed portions, a cable arranged within said recessed portions of the bushings, means for maintaining said bushings in predetermined space relation with respect to said cable during the launching of said mine anchor and for a predetermined period of time thereafter, and means for causing the cable to be yieldably clamped by said resilient bushings when said predetermined period of time has elapsed.

11. A resilient fairlead for a mine anchor having a constrictable aperture therein, amooring cable adapted to move freely within said aperture, and means responsive to the action of the sea water and connected to said fairlead for causing said aperture to be constricted sufliciently to cause the cable to be clamped by said fairlead.

12. In a device for mooring a marine mine, the combination of a mine anchor having means for paying out a length of cable therefrom, a buoyant mine secured to said cable, a fairlead on said mine anchor comprising a pair of arcuate resilient bushings through which the cable is adapted to be paid out, means including a lever adapted to cause relative movement between said bushings sufficient to clamp the cable therebetween, and means for preventing movement of said lever until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the mine anchor has been launched within the water.

13. In a device of the character disclosed for mooring a marine mine within a body of water, the combination of a mine anchor having a cable emerging therefrom, a buoyant mine secured to said cable, a fairlead comprising a pair of arcuate resilient members arranged onsaid mine anchor within which thecable is disposed, said members having a released position and a clamped position, means for maintaining said members in the released position during the launching of the mine within the body of water and for a predeterminedperiod of time thereafter, and means for moving said arcuate members to said clamped position when said predetermined period of time has elapsed thereby tocause said cable to be yieldably clamped by the arcuate members.

14. A mine anchor for mooring a marine mine, a mooring cable for connecting the mine to the mine anchor, means arranged within the mine anchor for paying out a length of cable as the mine is launched within the water, a casing for said mine anchor, a fairlead on said casing comprising two resilient members having complementary recessed portions within which the cable is arranged in predetermined space relation therefrom, means for moving one of said members relative to the other of the members from an initial position to a clamping position after said length of cable has been paid out thereby to cause the cable to be yieldably clamped by said resilient members, and means settable at will for adjusting the initial position of said resilient members.

15. A mine anchor having a cable emerging therefrom for mooring a marine mine, a fairlead on said mine anchor having a pair of complementary resilient bushings within which the cable is arranged adapted to be moved to clamping position when the mine anchor has been planted within the water for a predetermined period of time, a lever pivotally secured to said mine anchor adapted to move said resilient members into clamping position, a resilient device adapted to actuate said lever, means for preventing movement of the lever until the mine anchor has been planted for a predetermined period of time, and means including a cam member for locking said lever when said resilient bushings have been moved to a clamping position by said resilient device.

16. In a device of the character disclosed for mooring a marine mine within a body of water, a mine anchor adapted to engage the bed of said body of water, a mooring cable having a buoyant mine secured thereto, means included within said mine anchor for paying out a length of said mooring cable as the mine is launched within the water, a resilient fairlead on said mine anchor having an orifice therein of greater size than the cable through which the cable is paid out, and means effective when the mine anchor has been launched within the water for a predetermined period of time for causing said orifice to be constricted sufficiently to cause the cable to be clamped yieldably by said fairlead thereby to prevent the entrance of abrasive material between the cable and the fairlead.

17. A device of the character disclosed for mooring a submarine mine within a body of water comprising, in combination, a mine anchor including a casing, a mooring cable secured to the mine, a rotatable cable drum mounted in said casing for paying out a length of mooring cable therefrom as the mine is planted, distortable means carried by the casing and arranged about the cable for yieldably gripping said cable when the distortable means is compressed, a releasable clamp member on said casing for compressing said distortable means into gripping engagement with the cable when the clamp member is released, and means including a soluble mem- 11 her in communication with the surrounding water UNITED STATES PATENTS" when the anchor is submerged therein for releas- Number Name Date ing said clamp member when the anchor has been 947 230 Gabriel Jan 25 1910 launched within said body of water for a period 1 011'152 Bruck 1911 of time sufficient for the soluble member to dis- 5 l295066 Riley z 1919 solve. 1 1

ROBERTH PARK. 2,238,398 Reed Apr. 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS REFERENCES CITED Number Country Date The following references are of record in the 10 475,970 France Apr. 10, 1915 file of this patent: 

